Egyptian demonstrators in a fog of fire smoke and U.S. supplied tear gas

Due to the unprecedented demonstrations and protests in Egypt, this week we are dedicating the Sunday 25 Songs mix to the people of Egypt. All songs in today’s mix have some kind of relevance to the events in Egypt over the past five days. Therefore, we have songs about Egypt, peace, violence, democracy, the people, cities and figures of the ancient land. We can only hope that there is a peaceful transition from the 30 year dictatorship of Egypt to a new, open and democratic society.

Over the past few days, demonstrations have sprung up in Cairo, Alexandria (Egypt’s capital), Memphis and Suez, among others. Sadly, there are many reports of protesters being beaten, jailed, tortured, and murdered. (continue reading)

Note: Regardless of lyrics in some of these songs, we wish only a peaceful transition to democracy for the Egyptian people. As freedom lovers, we’re all for peace and freedom throughout the world. The youth of Egypt, and many other countries, deserve a better future than life under a brutal regime and murderous secret police organizations.

“Power to the People” – John Lennon

“Get Up, Stand Up (For Your Rights)” - Bob Marley

“All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!” – Sufjan Stevens

“Sunday Bloody Sunday” – U2

“Peace Frogs” – The Doors

Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his new vice president Omar Suleiman

“Peace Train” – Cat Stevens

“Better Things” - The Kinks

“I’m Gonna Change The World” – The Animals

“Warm Heart of Africa” (w/ Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend) – The Very Best

“Freedom Hangs Like Heaven” – Iron and Wine

“Pyramids Float” - Chad VanGaalen

“Pyramid” – Wolfmother

“Memphis, Egypt” – The Mekons

“Changes” – David Bowie

“We Are Free Men” - Bright Eyes

“Egyptian Love” – The Metros

“Egyptian Shumba” – The Tammys

“My Egyptian Grammar” – The Fiery Furnaces

“Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World” - Neil Young

“This Is A Rebel Song” – Sinead O’Connor

“Out of Egypt, Into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I Shake the Dirt From My Sandals As I Run” - Sufjan Stevens

“Pyramid Song” – Radiohead

“Sheets of Egyptian Cotton” – Jessie Spencer

“Skies Over Cairo” – Django Django

“Give Peace A Chance” – John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band

Bonus Tracks: Dedicated to the People of Egypt

“Egyptic” – Unknown Artist

“Egyptian Tomb” - Mighty Baby

“The Revolution Will Be Streaming” – Saxon Shore

“Pharaoh” – The Church

“As I Rise” – The Decemberists

“Letter to Memphis” – The Pixies

“Freedom” – Tea Leaf Green

“Cobra” – My Morning Jacket

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- continued from above –

The stakes are high in Egypt for the nation’s citizens, Israel, the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy. Two-thirds of the citizenry are under the age of 30, but it remains one of the poorest countries in the Middle East. The events that occurred in Tunisia are having a ripple effect across the region, with reported demonstrations in Algiers, Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia.

Across the Middle East, a generation of young people under the age of 30 are standing up against the dictators that have for decades been oppressing – often in violation to human rights treaties – millions of people and denying their people the most basic rights we often take for granted. It is not crazy to wonder, that in coming weeks, young people may begin to rise up across the Middle East, from Egypt to Yemen, and Jordan to Iran. The consequences could have a disastrous effect on the United States, especially in regards to keeping Iran subdued, Israel safe from attacks, a broader Middle East instability, and of course, the price of gas.

The U.S. government has two major strategic concerns in Egypt, the replacement of the Mubarak regime with a government not friendly to the United States and the disruption of oil coming from the Suez Canal. America’s addiction to oil not only is threatening the future of the country, but it forces us as a country to make friends with, and give aid to, regimes like Mubarak’s. But Americans need to stand up and support for elections and a democratic government in Egypt, and hope that such a movement sweeps across the Middle East with the least amount of bloodshed. However, there is very little possibility that large scale democratic movements in the region will be successful without massive cost of life. As Americans, we believe that we have the responsibility to advocate and support democratic movements in the Middle East because it is central to our own future.